UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Loej, said that after six weeks in South Sudan, she was convinced that every day without a political agreement contributes to a further deterioration of the situation.
She told the UN Security Council (UNSC) this morning, that this complicates the work of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and risks impacting the region negatively.
Loej called on the UNSC, regional leaders and all friends of South Sudan to remain fully engaged with the warring parties so that they make the necessary compromises required to translate their public statements of commitment to peace into actions on the ground.
Turning to civilians sheltering in UN bases throughout the country, Loej said that UNMISS still provided protection to about 100,000 internally displaced people in nine sites.
UNMISS and its humanitarian partners have invested substantial resources on existing site enhancements and the construction of new sites to improve living conditions, in addition to exerting all efforts to expand its reach, including through the establishment of forward bases, and active patrolling, both military and integrated, where possible on foot, in order to provide protection to vulnerable civilians beyond its premises.
Deployment of the remaining authorized personnel as well as equipment remains vital for the Mission to more effectively deter violence against civilians, she concluded.
On his part, Francis Mading Deng the Permanent Representative of South Sudan told the UNSC that the challenges are formidable for South Sudan, the society has been heavily militarized by small but deadly arms that have been spreading for decades.
It has been correctly noted that the current conflict is primarily political, not ethnic between Dinka and Nuer, yet has been increasingly made ethnic both in perception and in areas of targeted killings, he briefed.
He stressed on leadership is critical to restoring peace, unity and reconciliation, but more will need to be done to sensitize the population to the challenge and promote a broad-based healing process toward sustainable peace and national reconciliation.
Deng said what is now witnessed "is a breakdown of the traditional social order and related cultural values".
He called upon the international community to support the improving relations between the two countries and help them resolve their internal conflicts, as that is the only way their bilateral relations can be substantially grounded on a sound and constructive foundation.